Spark-plug-controlling device for internal-combustion engines



A. PACHE.

' SPARK PLUG CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGlNES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.26. 1918.

1,358,459, Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

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SPARK PLUG CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR lNTERNAL comsus TION ENGINES.

-APPL|CATI\)N FILED APR-26,1918.

Patent ad Nov, 9, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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artist AUG-USIE PAGE-il 01" NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application filed April 26,

T all whom it may concern.

Be it'known that I, Ancusrn PACHE, a subject of Switzerland,residing inthe city of New York, borough Manhattan, county and State of New York,have invented a certain new and useful .SparkPlug-COntrolling Devicefor. Internal Combustion Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention is designed for use on aeroplanes, automobiles, boats andall gasolene and gas motors. The apparatus is so placed as to becontrolled by the driver from his seat and can be used in conjunctionwith any internal combustion engine, to allow of the cleaningof thespark plug at the will of the chauffeur or driver.

The object of the invention is to provide means operable irom thedrivers seat, to allow of the selective operation of any particularspark plug 01"- the internal combustion engine, by which the vehicle ispropelled, to be individually operated by the driver for the purpose ofallowing the compression or burning gases from the cylinder tobeexhausted throughthe plug,to free the plug from carbon deposits, dirt oroil. A further object of the invention is to pro vide a simpleconstruction for carrying out the first enumerated object and to soorganize the parts that the electrode of any rmrticular plug, or theentire plug itself, may be readily removed without requiring dismantlingof any of the operating parts of the device.

The drawings illustrate the preferred, practical embodiment of theinvention, but it will be understood it is not confined to the speciiicstructure shown, the same being typical, but not exclusive, of the formsin which the invention may be embodied.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention asapplied to the ordinar; type of eight cylinder engine;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view;'Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 5-5 of Specification of iii-ottersPatent.

Patented Nov. 9, 12920.

Serial No. 230,976.

of the general character disclosed in my prior iatent No; 1,2d2,367dated @ctober 9, 1917, and my co-pending application Serial No. 163,824filed April 20, 191-7, in that each plug is provided with a longitudinalblowod'and priming passage through which extends a movable and removablepin 26, serving the dual purpose of an electrode, and a means fornormally sealing the blowoil passage. I

Mounted on the engine are standards 12, having pivotal connections 13with carrier arms is, on the outer ends of which are journals 15carrying a shaft 21. Collars 23 preclude the shaft 21 from longitudinalmovement in the journals 15. Shaft 21 is polygonal in cross-section, andis here shown as pentagonal, to allow oi its being normally lockedagainst inadvertent rotation by spring clips 17, carried by a rod 16,supported at its opposite ends in arms i l.

liiiounted on shaft 21 is a plurality of earns 22, here shown as springpressed rollers. Each roller is precluded from longitudinal movement onshaft 21 by washers 29 and cotter keys 28, as shown in Fig. l. One ofthese cams is positioned to cooperate with each spark plug in suchmanner as to engage with the upper end of the movable electrode 26 toforce said electrode down to its seat or to allow it to be raised so asto let the cylinder exhaust through the plug. Springs 18 serve tonormally maintain the cams in cooperative relation with. the plugsthrough the maintenance of the arms 1% in the "full line oper iveposition shown in Figs. iand But, if it is desired to remove a plug, orone or more electrodes 26, the arms 14:, may he hoc shifted on pivotconnections 13 against tension of springs 18 into the dotted linepositions of igs. and 5, to allow of J! r T' iree access to the plugs. When the shaft is in this inoperative position, the electrodes 26 may herear ily withdrawn as shown in dotted lines in 5, to allow of manuallycleaning or renewal of the same.

It will of course he understood that one rock shaft 21 is associatedwith each bank of cyl inders incase the invention is embodied in anengine of the V-type, as shown in the drawings, and, that in verticalengines having dual ignition, c'. 6., two plugs in each cylinder, therewould he one rocloshait with its described adjuncts associated with eachseries of plugs.

Aside from the bodily oscillatory movement of each shaft 21 into and outof operative position, said shaft is adapted to be rocked by means of ahandle 24, fixed thereto, to present different portions of the cams 22to the plug electrodes 26. The several cams are set on the shaft indifferent relation so that,'as the shaft is rocked, the low points ofthe cams may be successively presentedvto the successive electrodes, forthe purpose of allowing the exhausting of any particular cylinderthrough the plug.

Inpractice, the shaft 21 is made sulficiently long to project throughthe dash whereby the handle 24 is within easy access of a chauffeur ordriver, and, may be manipulated by him at any time to allow of thecleaning of the plugs without necessi tatinghis leaving hisseat in thecar.

The present invention may be used as shown and described on any type ofinternal combustion engine employing spark plugs, irrespective of thenumber of cylinders, it being understood that there will be as manyearns 22 provided as there are plugs. Very good results however may beobtained through the conjoint operationof the device of this inventionand the trouble locat- 7 ing device of my co-pending application No.

230,975, since, if it is found through such locating mechanism that thetrouble is due to a short circuit at a plug, the device of the presentinvention may be manipulated to blow out such plug, and, if the shortcircuit was due to carbon, dirt or oil, the trouble will be rectifiedimmediately.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

V 1. In an engine, a plurality of spark plugs, each of which is providedwith a 3. In an engine, a plurality of spark plugs provided with valvedblow-oil outlets, and unitary means for selectively controlling theoutlets of all of said plugs.

4:. In an engine, a plurality of spark plugs provided with valved blowofif outlets, means associated with, each plug for normally seating itsvalve, and controlling means, common to all the valve seating means,forallowing of the selective releasing-of said valves, whereby anyparticular plug may be blown out to the exclusion of the remainingplugs.

5. An internal combustion engine embodying a plurality of cylinders,each of which is provided with a spark plug having a movableelectrodeembodying'a valve adapted to close the blow-off passage throughthe plug, and manually operable means for selectively controlling theoperations of said electrodes from a distant point.

In testimony'whereof, l have signed my name to this specification. V c

AUGUSTE PACHE.

